PMP Today

MP4 Nation got first dibs on the Onda VX757. It’s a tiny player with a 3.0-inch screen. It has similar looks as the RAmos RM970. Good points are the screen (WVGA LTPS) and file support and form factor is definitely a plus on the VX757. It’s not a touch screen or WiFi-enabled or anything, but using the side or top buttons are a cinch. This looks like one of those players you buy for cheapness and quality media functionality. What else do you need for a PMP?

[via mp4nation]

Pocketables has published the first comprehensive review of iRiver’s simple PMP. The E100 is not the thinnest mini-PMP out there but, as we have remarked before, this little device got style. There are a few disappointments like the supposed D-Click control, so it’s even far behind other iRiver models announced at CES that will use the new SPINN controls. The control pad is a more traditional affair with four arrows as controls and a middle button as the OK button. Other disappointments are the poor quality of the stereo speakers and a microSD storage that is not integrated with the built-in memory. Plus points include the design, of course, automatic landscape orientation (right side only for video playback) but up to 270 degrees for photos and the 24-hour audio and 5-hour video battery life. It will be available in US late March or early April for 2GB ($117), 4GB ($147), and 8GB ($215).

Watch the video review after the break.

[source via engadget] Read the rest »

Solar-powered PMPs could be the device of the future and eMotion Solar PMP is one device that is on the right track. The funny thing is, this is not the first incarnation of the exact same solar PMP design. We have spotted this device a couple of times (go here and here) in wholesalers sites. This one is a more pocketable design but lacks the features eMotion brings to the table. Which brings us to the actual review of Gizmodo. Surprise, surprise, the solar-panel works quite well. It gives the device enough power for video playback and game playing. All the features, though lacking in finesse, work. There is even text-to-speech on eMotion. As mentioned in this post, this PMP can charge other devices including other PMPs and even iPods. Alas, it doesn’t work on the iPhone. For $169, this 2GB multi-media player and portable gamer is a bargain. Even if you don’t use it for multimedia, it’s a handy power source for your other devices.

[via gizmodo]

Akihabaranews has the lowdown on the Sony Mylo 2. In brief, it’s a user-friendly PDA with a fast processor and full PMP (multimedia) capabilities. There’s no calling capabilities and it’s a bummer that it supports video playback at 320 x 240pixels while the screen is so much better at 800 x 480 pixels. Akihabaranews also has a little poll running and it looks like Mylo 2 is lording it over the iPod Touch. You can buy Mylo 2 now for $299.99.

Video review after the break.

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Slacker is better than your iPod collection, because the customized channels of Internet radio like Slacker “know us better than we know ourselves.” Unlike the Haier iBiza Rhapsody, Slacker Portable does not have live music streaming via WiFi. It has WiFi, but Slacker Portable it does is save stations from your PC and uses WiFi to refresh channels. The result is smooth music playing and virtually boundless opportunities to discover and love songs you do not own yet. You can saev songs with a $10 a month charge, cheaper than iBiza Rhapsody. Plays AAC Pro v2 audio files, and channels refresh via Ku-band satellite coming soon. Perhaps the biggest weakness of the Slacker Portable is storage: $200 for 15 stations (2GB), $250 for 25 stations (4GB), $300 for 40 stations (8GB). With up to 8GB of space for music, you can bet video playback is not in the horizon.

[source]

Last week we told you about ONDA’s latest iPhone clone, the VX747. Now we found a video of the device and my does it look great. I’m glad to see ginger input is very responsive, though a stylus comes with the device The user interface isn’t bad at all. Music playing and video playback is strictly see for your self.

A fuller video review here.

The VX747 can be bought here for $105. Specs after the break Read the rest »

What’s the difference again of a UMPC and a MID? This is what Intel has to say. But according to Amtek’s new U560 UMPC, absolutely nothing. The device is a slider of the SideKick variety and is powered by an 800MHz processor, which can be reduced for battery optimization as Steve/Chippy found out in his review (after the break).

First, the highlights of the Amtek U560 UMPC:

*4.8″ 1024 X 600
* RAM 512 MB
* Hard Disk 30 GB
* Windows HD WMV 720 ‘Coral Reef’ demo - Perfect (6mbps)
* WiFi b/g
* 1mbps H.264 - Perfect (30% cpu utilisation)
* YouTube full screen - Perfect.
* 4mbps Divx - 35% cpu.
* Joost - Working (That’s the first time I’ve seen it working on a UMPC)
* Stage6 streaming HQ Divx videos - Working.
* Divx VOB files - Working

Video review after the break.

[via umpcportal] Read the rest »

The COWON Q5 is one of the best PMPs out in the market. It is a multi-connected platform for users who only want the best in portable movie viewing. What COWON gave them is a Windows CE device powered by a 600Mhz processor and a 5-inch 800 x 400-pixel screen with touch control and HSDPA, EDGE, GPRS, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity as well as a GPS (with adapter), TV out, and FM tuner. It plays Xvid, DivX, MPEG, WMV (click the jump for the specs). The Q5 s a pricey device with lots of good things about it and a few minor flaw. For a full review click on the GMP3 link.

Read on for the full specs of the COWON Q5.

[via gmp3] Read the rest »

Our friends at GenerationMP3 tested a variety of PMP brands and came up with this hierarchy table of their sound-producing features. GMP3 has tested all of these devices so you can be sure that though they don’t claim total objectivity they know what they are talking about. The Clix 2 from iRiver took top honors followed by the Sony A810. The iPod Touch and Nano came almost dead last.

Click the link for the details of the table.

[via generationmp3]

Pasen’s iTouch SE is a major design leap from the original iTouch, which many observers agree is a clone of the iPod Touch. Though iTouch SE has suffered a cutback on the screen area from 3.5 inches to 2.83 inches as well as fattened up considerably from a thin 8mm to a substantial 12.5mm we have to give Pasen credit for this clean enamel-finish PMP. The SE’s interface, as the video clearly shows, disappoints in many areas. Most importantly, it’s the stylus input that turns us off this otherwise fashionable media players. Come on, do they really expect users to pull out a stylus just to play MP3 tunes?

Pasen’s iTouch SE supports the following media formats: AVI, XviD, DivX, MP3, WMA, APE, FLAC, JPEG, BMP, TXT. Any player this useful should get a second look at least, so we’ll wait till Pasen slaps an official MSRP on the iTouch SE before we give you our final verdict.

Update:  Good news, our contact from Pasen (see comment below) says stylus is optional and finger input is very possible.

[via engadget]